EPC Minutes – Nov. 9, 2004
Members Present: Kim Bennett, Kari Rogers, David O’Connell, Lori Rodriguez-Fisher, Martin Hansen, Barb Wiese, Bill McAleer, Bill Hixon, Tom Hill, Ragene Gwin, Corinne Winter, Brenda Peters
Excused: Mara Adams
Guests: Keith Soko, Paul Koch, Rachel Serianz, Deanna Stoube
Motion to approve – Tom Hill, Second – Ragene Gwin minutes approved
Motion to approve- Barb Wiese; Second – David O’Connell
Discussion
This course addresses a new focus in education nationally – the need for teachers to be able to teach students how to read a text in a content area. This is a need associated with No Child Left Behind. The course will also address the development of writing skills within disciplines. This course will be for elementary teachers (K – 6) obtaining a reading endorsement
Question – What is the relationship of this course to EDUC 371 and 372 of which the second course lists content reading as a major element.
The content focus in 372 is more general; 459 will provide more specialized and deeper work. Teachers who obtain a reading endorsement may themselves be teachers of reading as well as helping other teachers with reading and writing across the curriculum.
Iowa is soon going to require a course of this type if SAU wants to be able to offer a reading endorsement. Illinois already has such a requirement.
It is also hoped that this course will help teachers choose good materials for teaching reading skills.
Question – Why 2 credit hours?
This course has no field component. Students already carry a heavy credit-load, so there was a desire not to make this a 3-credit course
What is the department’s experience with the current on-line course and what criteria are used for on-line courses.
The one-credit course is working well. Criteria include strict guidelines as to when things must be completed. Students must post ideas on-line by a particular day each week and must respond to one another by another deadline. On-line discussion boards have been successful, though not real-time on-line chat. The course includes group work in discussion boards set up for the groups as well as individual projects which are also posted on-line for comments by peers.
How many students can realistically take part in a manageable on-lien course? 15.
Dr. Stoube participated in on-line courses during her own education and also worked with Jill Jacobson in developing the model she uses.
Motion passed
Motion to approve – Corinne Winter; Second – Ragene Gwin
The director of general education attested that her review of the proposal indicated that all of the requirements for general education status had been met.
The courses that can be taken to meet the pre-requisite for the course ought to be listed. Students must have taken ONE of the following three courses: THEO 101, THEO 219 OR PHIL 207.
There was a brief discussion of programs that might benefit from this course. It might also provide a link to the community through guest speakers as well as through people who might want to take the course for enrichment.
Motion passed
There was a brief discussion of the fact that the 4-point outlines for the Psychology courses could not be sent on-line although the other parts of the program review were sent in that way. The committee agreed that any department who finds they cannot submit part or all of their review on-line should take the responsibility to provide hard copies to members of Ed. Policies.
Briefly, once again, the committee asks that departments submit program reviews electronically as three documents:
*The overall review including assessment information, proposed actions, and other materials listed on the website
*The 4-point outlines for all courses
*All syllabi
Corinne Winter will miss the Nov. 16 meeting. David O’Connell volunteered to do the minutes for that meting. Thank you, David.
Motion to adjourn – Lori Rodriguez-Fisher; Second – Ragene Gwin
Adjourned 3:50 p.m.
Submitted by Corinne Winter